As someone who is really into home automation, I love to talk about it with other people. It is common to hear friends and family members say things like, “What’s the big deal? So you can program your lights to go on and off automatically.” If that were true, I would not be interested in home automation. But it’s not.

Let me just say this: you can do a lot in home automation with a little imagination. That is the beauty of home automation technology. Think outside the box and you can do some pretty incredible things that you never thought possible before.

Training Cats to Behave

I am always on the lookout for stories detailing how people creatively use their home automation systems. I recently ran across a Yahoo! Life post dating back to 2023. The piece described how a tech savvy homeowner combined two simple home automation devices to train his cats.

If you have cats, you know how difficult it can be to alter their behavior. That was the case with the post’s writer, whose two cats developed some inappropriate behaviors after he purchased a new home. One of them took to jumping onto the kitchen counter and helping himself to dirty dishes in the sink.

To make a long story short, he employed a motion sensor and what appears to be an Alexa-enabled video-smart speaker device to break his cat of the bad habit. Whenever the cat approached the sink, the motion sensor would trigger an alarm. The owner would then flip on the video and speak to his pet.

To make a long story short, victory was achieved. At the time the article was written, the writer says it had been months since the cat went near the sink. I would call that a win.

If You Can Dream It, Try It

I have read other stories of people using motion sensors and alarms to keep their dogs out of the garbage. I have read about automations that facilitate moving music around the house without forcing the entire home to be filled with music simultaneously.

I even read a story about a guy who set up an entire morning routine. By the time he stepped out of the shower, his first-floor lights were on, his coffee was freshly made, and his smart speaker was standing by to relay his daily schedule.

My take is that if you can dream it, try it. The worst thing that could happen is that your new home automation trick doesn’t work. But that just means you have a reason to keep working at it. Someday, you might figure it out.

Where to Start

So, where can you start a home automation journey limited only by your imagination? I recommend going with a pre-packaged system from a provider like Vivint Home Security. You get a decent package of standard equipment that includes video cameras, window and door sensors, and a smart hub. Then you can add devices like smart thermostats, video doorbells, and smart lighting.

If you are a true adventurer, skip the prepackaged system and look for an open-source platform you can install on an old laptop. That is what I did. The advantage of going this route is being able to choose the devices and brands you prefer rather than being locked into a proprietary ecosystem. The downside is that your device choices may be limited depending on the platform you choose.

The key to getting the most out of home automation is imagination. Think outside the box and you just might amaze yourself.